Probe Commissions now just name boards – ACF

Many extremely corrupt individuals who carried out thieving to the maximum in the Mahinda Government were given Cabinet Ministry posts on behalf of the SLFP because of the government of good governance.

They are doing everything they can to protect their friends and previous masters.

PRECIFAC carried out investigations into big fish such as former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Gotabhaya, Basil, Namal, Shashindra, Mahindananda, Wimal Weerawansa, Sarath Kumara, Jagath Pushpakumara and Semasinghe, They were summoned and questioned.

There is no difference between the Bribery Commission during Mahinda’s time and Commission of the present, during Maithripala’s time. In both no work was done, only noise.

The Bribery Commission, the Large Scale Corruption Commission and the Corruption Secretariat have simply become name boards only. The thieves from then and those of today are all waiting to close down the FCID, according to Adviser of the Anti-Corruption Front (ACF) Keerthi Tennakoon.

“One month after Lacille de Silva was removed from his post as Secretary, the Presidential Commission of Inquiry……to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC) became a notice board only. After Dilrukshi Dias resigned, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption completely stopped filing politically sensitive legal action. When the grants to the Corruption Investigation Secretariat are cut off the FCID will simply become a kitten. Investigations into bribery or corruption of the Government of good governance are limited also to a notice board. Extremely corrupt persons in the then Government as well as the present Government are now partaking of corruption from the same plate,” stated the Advisor to the Anti-Corruption Front, Keerthi Tennakoon.

Addressing a media discussion held yesterday in Rajagiriya, Tennakoon added “the PRECIFAC carried out investigations into big fish such as former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Gotabhaya, Basil, Namal, Shashindra, Mahindananda, Wimal Weerawansa, Sarath Kumara, Jagath Pushpakumara and Semasinghe, They were summoned and questioned.

Additional Secretary Damayanthi Jayaratne fled the country with the assistance of a Cabinet Minister as she feared she would be summoned by PRECIFAC. The Secretary of the Commission Lacille de Silva was removed because of Rishard’s Laksathosa. Today that too is restricted to a notice board. Not even one case has been filed. It has become a place which swallows money and pays retired persons wages and swallows tax money paid by the people. It has become a Commission restricted to just a notice board.

“Next, affairs were brought to a peak where Dilrukshi Dias Wickremesinghe could not continue to work at the Bribery Commission.

They arranged so that she would resign. She had completed 22 politically sensitive investigations. Then, we asked the Bribery Commission to expedite their work. Subsequent to Dilrukshi Dias leaving, today, there is no difference between the Bribery Commission during Mahinda’s time and Commission of the present, during Maithripala’s time. In both no work was done, only noise.

“The same fate has befallen the Corruption Investigation Secretariat office. Investigating officers do not have vehicles. They are not paid travel expenses. The direct impact was on the FCID. In a short time that too will become a notice board only.

“This is how ‘Good Governance’ goes about capturing thieves. They make big speeches on stages. Talented, honest officials do their maximum and catch the thieves and then the organization becomes inactive. The UNP needs to protect the family of Mahinda Rajapaksa. Officials who were with them need to be protected. Even though party members of the UNP were subject to political revenge, the officials who were responsible exist very well in the highest of places.

“Many extremely corrupt individuals who carried out thieving to the maximum in the Mahinda Government were given Cabinet Ministry posts on behalf of the SLFP because of the government of good governance. They are doing everything they can to protect their friends and previous masters. This government now talks about fraud and corruption as if, “Oh dear, a group of foolish people like you,” while smiling at the people.

Former Chairman of the Bank of Ceylon Rusiripala Tennakoon and Chrishamal Warnasuriya participated in the media briefing.